General John Stark Celebration in Dunbarton - Revolution War Reenactors - Musket Salute

Gen. John Stark Day In Historic Dunbarton, NH

Revolution War Reenactors - Musket Salute

Ceremony Honoring Revolutionary Hero Gen. John Stark

Dunbarton by Don Larsen, Larsen Media Services, LLC: Historical Dunbarton the location of the Molly Stark House, will be celebrating Gen. John Stark Day Monday April 24, 2017 on the Town Commons. Mingle and have photos taken with Revolutionary War reenactors. Festivities start at 12:15pm, gather by Maj. Caleb Stark’s bronze statue, the General’s son, to hear speeches, stories and the laying of a wreath.

Stark accepted a colonelcy in the New Hampshire Militia and was given command of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment. In the battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, Stark led his men to the low ground between the Mystic Beach and the hill, preventing the British from flanking Col. Prescott’s positions on Bunker Hill and allowing them to retreat safely.

Four months later, his home state offered Stark a commission as Brigadier General of the New Hampshire Militia. He accepted on the strict condition that he would not be

answerable to Continental Army authority. Soon after receiving his commission, Stark assembled 1,492 militiamen in civilian clothes with personal firearms.

In the Battle of Bennington Gen. Stark was up against Lt. Col. Friedrich Baum who was trying to capture American supplies at Bennington, Vermont. Baum commanded 374 Brunswick infantry and dismounted dragoons, 300 Indians, Loyalist , and Canadians and two 3-pound cannons manned by 30 Hessians.

After waiting out a day of rain, at 3:00 PM on the 16th Stark sent 200 militia to the right, 300 men to the left, 200 troops against a position held by Tories, and 100 men on a feint against Baum's main redoubt. In the face of these attacks, the Indians, loyalists, and Canadians fled, leaving Baum stranded in his main position. As his envelopment took effect, Stark led his remaining 1,200 troops against Baum, saying, "We'll beat them before night or Molly Stark's a widow.” As a commander of the New England militia, Stark had one rare and priceless quality: He knew the limitations of his men. They were innocent of military training, undisciplined, and unenthusiastic about getting shot. With these men he killed over 200 of Europe's vaunted regulars with a loss of 14 Americans killed.